The small fist struck Zapdos, dozens of times larger than itself.
A shocking scene unfolded. Zapdos flew backward like someone hit by a high-speed train, generating sonic booms from the sheer velocity. As its speed decreased slightly, the follow-up Force Palm technique detonated with another explosive BOOM, launching Zapdos even farther.
"Again, Plasma Fists," John directed casually.
Compared to Deoxys, Zapdos fell far short. One Zeraora should suffice, and decisively so.
"Zeraaa!" Zeraora grew excited, using Agility to accelerate mid-air, flashing across the sky like a dazzling silver comet.
In an eyeblink, it reached Zapdos.
"Gust!" Zapdos beat its wings frantically. No fool, it had learned from their first collision that this terrifying white-furred cat possessed power beyond its ability to resist.
Violent winds rose like waves or hurricanes, condensing into twin storms angled left and right to block Zeraora's advance.
By the time Zeraora shattered the hurricanes with a single punch, Zapdos had accelerated thousands of meters away, fleeing without looking back.
"KRAAAW! (Damn creature, I'll definitely return!)" Zapdos cursed while retreating.
"Running away?" John raised an eyebrow.
Weren't you acting tough just moments ago? He'd expected a fight to the death.
"But can you escape now that you want to?" John threw another Pokeball.
The Pokeball opened mid-air, releasing Shadow Lugia onto the grassland.
"Let's go, chase!" He vaulted onto Lugia's back, pointing in Zapdos's direction.
Zeraora had already pursued one step ahead.
Lugia immediately beat its massive wings, generating winds that flattened the entire prairie's grass. With a thunderous boom, they rose through the air, becoming a silver shadow flickering toward the horizon.
Shortly after John departed, a middle-aged man emerged from the forest bordering the grassland, staring skyward with round eyes while muttering in disbelief.
[The Thunder God awakens...]
[The Sea God has been tamed!]
[Could it be... the prophecy of world destruction is about to come true?]
In the air, on Lugia's back, John frowned thoughtfully. "A destruction prophecy? Is there such a prophecy in the Orange Islands?"
While on the grassland, Gardevoir had already noticed the middle-aged man spying on them. Since he hadn't moved threateningly, John had ignored him.
Now that they'd left, Gardevoir relayed the man's words through telepathy.
This warranted some concern, after all, it involved prophecies related to legendary Pokemon. Moreover, a world destruction prophecy suggested first-tier legendary involvement.
John waved his hand. "Speed up the chase. I want to see how the world gets destroyed."
Three streaks of light flew rapidly across the sky, passing over Kumquat Island. Onlookers below glimpsed only flashing lights, nothing obviously abnormal.
Two minutes beyond Kumquat Island...
This Zapdos's speed deserved praise. Even after three minutes at full power, Lugia and Zeraora hadn't caught up.
"Gardevoir~" Gardevoir suddenly alerted John while using Future Sight to project imagery into his mind.
An aerial view materialized before John's eyes.
Three strange islands sat on the ocean. One island lay bare and rocky, constantly bombarded by thunder. Another was frozen under thick ice layers. The final island bathed in flames with scorched black earth.
"Lightning, fire, ice." An idea flashed through John's mind, and he suddenly understood this destruction prophecy.
"Another movie plot~"
As he spoke, John and Lugia arrived above the three islands.
"KRAAAW! (Brothers, wake up quickly! Humans dare mock my divine majesty!)" Zapdos roared loudly, calling its brothers to battle.
John recalled Zeraora's Pokeball and stood on Lugia's back with arms crossed, waiting for Zapdos to summon the other two gods.
"Your brothers don't seem to know you very well!" John laughed.
After Zapdos's roar, Fire Island and Ice Island showed no reaction. Flames continued burning slowly while the ice-covered island remained motionless.
John felt embarrassed for Zapdos, and Zapdos itself seemed embarrassed.
Embarrassment quickly turned to anger.
Zapdos immediately flew to Fire Island, opening its beak to fire a Thunderbolt, then turned toward Ice Island to fire another.
Then came this declaration:
"ZAPDOS! (Brothers, that human plans to beat you up too!)"
John: ?
Are you sure you're Zapdos and not some trickster Pokemon? You're remarkably skilled at fabricating situations and shifting blame. No wonder Zapdos has a standard villain face in every anime and story.
However, John had to admit it.
Zapdos was right!
He did want them all!
Whether they heard John's intention to battle them collectively or were angered by Zapdos's Thunderbolt attacks on their islands, the gods on Fire Island and Ice Island finally responded.
On Fire Island, previously just flames burning across the small landmass, now raging flames shrouded the entire island, transforming it into a blazing inferno.
On Ice Island, hairline cracks began appearing across ice frozen for hundreds of years, spreading from the island's center in all directions while white mist accompanied their expansion. A hundred-meter radius around the island became frozen solid.
The next moment.
SCREEECH!
Two bird cries rang out simultaneously.
Within the flames, a great bird's silhouette emerged, becoming a pillar of fire shooting straight skyward, dyeing the entire heavens fiery red.
The ice shattered piece by piece until finally exploding like broken glass. An ice sculpture resembling a great bird spread its wings and soared upward.
In John's vision, names and levels appeared above these two avian Pokemon.
[Moltres LV92]
[Articuno LV93]